Scars Are Tattoos with Better Stories
A raw, personal story about burnout, biopsies, and the moment Jen realized it was time to rest. For any nutrition coach who’s running on empty and needs permission to pause, this one’s for you.
Happy 2-Tips Tuesday!
Here are two ideas to consider this week.
By Jennifer Broxterman, RD
1. Scars Are Tattoos with Better Stories
This memory from 4 years ago popped up on my social media timeline.
June 25, 2021
My digestive system has not been well.
I’ve been waiting for weeks for pathology results to come back on 11 biopsy sites that were taken.
Thankfully, I’ve ruled out that my cancer isn’t coming back, even though my symptoms mimicked how I felt the first time I got diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I can’t even begin to explain how terrifying and how much it messes with your mind, unless I guess you’ve been through something like this and can relate.
“It’s just a bunch of bleeding ulcers at your surgery site where your digestive tract got cut apart and sewn back together,” I was casually told.
“Oh, and there’s inflammation and tissue damage in your esophagus, stomach, and large intestine, so maybe the start of Crohn’s disease.”
I could go on a tangent with how health information gets communicated in the most non-compassionate and unhelpful way, but I digress.
When I work with my nutrition clients, I always think holistically and what’s the source of the problem. With curiosity, kindness, and honesty, we can almost always get to the bottom of it.
And if I’m being honest with myself, my source is stress, overwork, and anxiety.
I’ve been working from a place of pure adrenaline since the pandemic started as a family of two small business owners. I’ve worked so hard to not lay off any of my team when the going got really tough. And then I worked and pushed and grew NutritionRx bigger and better than it’s ever been.
- new team members
- new website
- new nutrition packages
- new online programs
- new courses
- new content
- podcast appearances
- public speaking and delivering talks at online summits
- more new clients on-boarded and cared for than ever before
… it’s basically been 16 straight months of pushing and creation and giving to others.
And then things freaking exploded in the best way possible!
I have more work and opportunities coming my way than I can possibly say yes to. I’ve been working 10-12 hour days 6-7 days/week just to keep up (not good), as I keep working to grow my team to share the workload.
These last 16 months my clients have needed me. I’ve treated more serious eating disorders in the span of a year than I did in the 2-3 years prior. It’s rewarding to help someone overcome an ED, but deep and difficult work.
So I work all day as a Registered Dietitian, and then I work all night and on weekends as a CEO to run and grow my company.
So I’m tired. Exhausted. Weary in my bones. I’ve seen a lot of kindness and goodness in the world, while at the same time I’ve absorbed a lot of unkindness from people this past year.
So now, it’s time to rest. To say no. To delegate. To ask for help. To heal.
I need to sit in stillness, go hiking in the forest, and laugh with friends around a campfire. I’ll be back good as new, but first I need to rest.
xo Jen
#beatcancer #ovariancancer #radicalremission
2. You Are Allowed to Rest
That’s how you come back stronger.
Write me back if this is the exact advice you needed to hear today, and I’ll send you a little video message.
You can reach me directly at [email protected]
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❤️🐻🌈
Jen Broxterman
Registered Dietitian
Prosper Nutrition Coaching
P.S. If today's story hit a little close to home, I made a YouTube video just for you.
It's called, "I Almost Quit Nutrition Coaching (Here's Why)" and it's one of the realest things I've ever shared.
If you like it, I’d love if you subscribed. I’m creeping up on 1,000 subscribers on our PRO$PER YouTube channel… and hey, maybe you’ll even be subscriber #1000.
We’re getting close!
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Jennifer Broxterman, MSc, RD
REGISTERED DIETITIAN & SPORTS NUTRITIONIST
• Award-winning Foods & Nutrition University Professor
• Successful entrepreneur of owner of NutritionRx
• 16 year CrossFit affiliate owner with my husband
• Founder of Prosper Nutrition Coaching & lead nutrition coach
